Author: cedarsphilosophy

Politics

The laws of coalitions

Coalitions are partnerships formed by people, political parties and factions to achieve common goals. Coalitions are omnipresent in human relations, from international security, diplomatic alliances, electoral alliances, coalition governments to grassroots coalitions. Coalitions enable the coordination of resources, strategies, and objectives, in order to increase the chances of achieving the desired common goals. Coalitions abide by properties and laws. Similarly to other forms of matter, … Continue reading The laws of coalitions

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Politics

The fragmented nation

It is no secret that Lebanon is a fragmented nation. The political reality is a testament to that reality. Whether it has to do with historical divisions, cartel factions bickering, or the thawra’s inability to create a unified coalition, the phenomenon is the same. There are over 150 licensed political parties and associations in Lebanon. Within the thawra, there are over 20 groups. Diversity in … Continue reading The fragmented nation

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Sovereignty & Diplomacy, 18 Tribes, One Civilization

Pan-Arabism: origin and evolution

Pan-Arabism emerged in the mid-1800s, advocating for the unification of the tribes from North Africa, Western Asia and the Arabian Gulf. The introduction of the printing press by Napoleon in Egypt allowed the codification and spread of Modern Standard Arabic as an official language, borrowed from Classical Arabic literature. The ideology was a way to unite multi-sectarian tribes who spoke similar dialects, initially to free … Continue reading Pan-Arabism: origin and evolution

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18 Tribes, One Civilization

Cultural syncretism and ideology

In the early days of the republic, the Pan-Arabist ideology came into clash with an ideology based on Phoenicianism. Pan-Arabism emerged in the mid-1800s, advocating for the unification of multi-sectarian tribes who spoke similar dialects from North Africa, Western Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. Phoenicianism was a way to promote a pan-sectarian identity within Lebanon by reviving an old civilization that formed the foundational heritage … Continue reading Cultural syncretism and ideology

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Sovereignty & Diplomacy

Why is Lebanon a vassal state? 3) Identity

To complete the analytical framework for understanding why Lebanon is a vassal state, the identity factor is key. While the foundations of sovereignty are internal factors within the control of the Lebanese population, regional geopolitical are external factors that can amplify and worsen weaknesses in the domestic factors. The identity factor can make or break the direction and agency of the local population with respect … Continue reading Why is Lebanon a vassal state? 3) Identity

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Sovereignty & Diplomacy

Why is Lebanon a vassal state? 2) Regional Geopolitics

Geopolitics is the science of the intersection between geographic and political factors. Geography is quasi time-invariant; tectonic shifts occur over thousands of years. Climates go through many shorter cycles lasting hundreds of years, as well as a long-run cycle. Political variables change more frequently, driven by human dynamics evolving on a daily basis. Geographically, the Levant has been at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and … Continue reading Why is Lebanon a vassal state? 2) Regional Geopolitics

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Sovereignty & Diplomacy

Why is Lebanon a vassal state? 1) Foundations of Sovereignty

Since the establishment of the state, Lebanese territory has been occupied for 78 years by five different foreign armed forces. Whether these occupations were legitimate, beneficial or harmful, include domestic fighters, or received Lebanese government approval is a separate discussion. These occupations all entail subordination of the Lebanese military-security apparatus to a foreign command and control structure, impeding the ability of the Lebanese state to … Continue reading Why is Lebanon a vassal state? 1) Foundations of Sovereignty

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Politics

The Third Republic

Lebanon’s current crisis is partly a symptom that its current constitutional structure is unfit for effective governance. While a change in the social pact is inevitable at some point, there are differing opinions on whether Lebanon should become a secular decentralized unitary state, a federal sectarian state or a federal state based on geographic divisions. The April 13 alliance of the revolution advocates for a … Continue reading The Third Republic

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Politics

Principles of Republics

Like all forms of governments, the framework for republics is driven by historical norms and political philosophy. Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, Enlightenment thinkers from the Renaissance, and American founding fathers have greatly influenced the underlying principles of all republics. Democracy, citizenship, distributions of powers, constitutional freedoms, popular sovereignty and universal suffrage are all pillars that have grown to define the way republican forms of … Continue reading Principles of Republics

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